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Lloyd Reeds Map Collection |
| Robert Edward Clifford: Biographical Information |
Robert Edward Clifford (1767-1817)The Hon. Robert Clifford was the third son of Hugh, the fourth Lord Clifford of Chudleigh in Devon, England. As a member of a Roman Catholic family, Robert Clifford was sent abroad to Liege, France, for his education. The Penal Laws in England restricted the rights of Roman Catholics, so it was quite usual for Roman Catholic families to send their sons abroad to be educated in the faith.The Penal Laws also prohibited Roman Catholics from serving in a government office or as a member of the armed forces. Therefore, when finished his formal education at age seventeen and being interested in a military career, Robert Clifford was commissioned an officer in Dillon's Regiment of the Irish Brigade serving the French army. The Colonel Proprietor of this regiment was his cousin, Lieut.-General Count Arthur Dillon. "Robert Clifford served until after the judicial murder of King Louis, when he deserted and returned to England with maps and plans of French fortifications." (Clifford, p.164). He returned to England, having been trained in the most advanced methods of cartography and military science available at that time. To prepare for a possible invasion by the French, General John Graves Simcoe asked Robert Clifford for help in providing maps for use by the British military. To meet this need, Robert Clifford "set about producing a set of ‘skeleton' military maps covering the whole of southern England as far north as a line joining Anglesey to the Wash." (Ravenhill (1994), p.164). As well, he gave advice with respect to possible strategies to counteract an invasion. His military expertise was so highly esteemed that he was asked to comment on the regulations of the new military college being established at High Wycombe (later known as the Royal Military College at Sandhurst). As well, Robert Clifford gave advice to John Cary, a cartographer and map publisher. (Fordham, pp.95-96) He was an author and translator, and a collector of books and maps. "He was, in addition to being a founder-member of the Royal Institution, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Vice-President of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and a Fellow of the Royal Society." (Ravenhill (1988), p.52) He had an abundance of skills and knowledge at a time when they were particularly needed. Bibliography Clifford, Hugh. The House of Clifford from before the Conquest. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. 1987. Fordham, Herbert George. John Cary: Engraver, Map, Chart and Print-Seller and Globe-Maker, 1754 to 1835. 1925. Reprint. Kent: Wm. Dawson & Sons Ltd. 1976. Ravenhill, William. "The Honourable Robert Edward Clifford, 1767-1817: ACartographer's Response to Napoleon." The Geographical Journal 160, 2 (1994): 159-172. Ravenhill, William. "‘Skeletons' at Ugbrooke Park, Devon." The Cartographic Journal 25, June (1988): 50-57. Back to the Rare Maps Homepage
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